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Monday, 20 February 2017

A unique new modernist design 16 floor ‘camouflage’ Defence Ministry building is being built in Zagreb. (image: Proarh)

All the local shootings, stabbings and drug overdoses news is getting very boring so time for another addition. There's been a number of recent films related news happenings I was considering posting about, some more award winning Croatian directed and produced films at various international film festivals, Croatian designed dresses at the Golden Globes getting raves, heck even the very Oscar statues this year were made by a Croatian roots founded company, but I'm doing this topic instead. Now I should note there's plenty of other larger type construction projects going on these days in Croatia, various new malls are fairly common and practically ho-hum now, (Yep, I even actually posted about a mall once before believe it or not, it was a boring day because the mall was closed and there was no mall related entertainment and activities going on), new airports and terminals, large bridge projects finishing and in the works, new hotel and resort complexes, new sea ports and stuff like that.

But this very recently announced less glamourousy-celeby-sportsy project starting up caught my interest not because it's going to be the largest or tallest or best looking city building project which isn't the point anyway. (Zagreb and Croatia like a number of other Central European countries isn't a skyscrapers type city or country to begin with such as Gotham City, the Westgate Tower B currently under construction in the coastal city of Split will be the officially tallest building in the country next year). The main thing though is that it definitely looks very different but also just overall is very frikin' cool and unique looking. (I Googled around and couldn't find anything even similar, as in an actual recent city building and not a hut, bunker, garage or treehouse, there was one building in China I came across but it was an already existing building that was years later painted camoflauge, but the greenish woodland forest type camo pattern also)

Work for this new unique pixelated ‘camouflage’ building for Croatia’s Defence Ministry in the capital Zagreb started up in late December and is expected to be completed in 2018. Leading Croatian architect office Proarh are behind the design of the 16 floor project. It will contain offices, top secret technical rooms, as well as a gym, sauna, spa, top floor terrace and solar panels, kitchen area and restaurant, and most interesting that dam cool looking pixel-camo pattern exterior for a finishing touch. I also like how it's sort of twisty-curvy effect looking, and not just a perfectly aligned rectangular steel, concrete and glass windows building, it looks almost like an Ikea table lamp I have except it's camo instead of cyan. It's a pixelated camo beacon of freedom, I would consider putting a bright skyward pointing rooftop spotlight at night, it would look good especially when foggy. (Heck, if the solar panels store enough power and it doesn't interfere with the airport or any airspace laws, I say install 3 angled rotating spotlights for even a better carousel vortex effect, a night light vortex beacon of freedom and progress)

What is also cool is the location, it's being built specifically in the vicinity of ​​the Croatian Military Academy in Zagreb where buildings from the times the Croatian lands were coterminous within the Austro-Hungarian period are located also, so it will be neighbors so to speak, a brand new modern camouflaged complex mixed in with building from the 17th to 20th century, and now 21st century. According to information from Proarh, it's official name will be the "Nikola Zrinski" building, which is of course named after the 17th century military leader, noble and Ban (pronounced like the Ban in autobahn and meaning Viceroy/Governor) of the Croatian lands Nikola Zrinski, (Nikola VII. Zrinski.1620-1664) and it will be located close to the "Petar Zrinski" Military School Centre which is part of the overall "Dr. Franjo Tuđman" Croatian Defence Academy.

You see, in this day and age with all the increasing non-celeb and non-sports news topics going on, and all the various b.s. agenda driven subversives lurking to and fro to undermine the society, history and even destabilize progress and civilization in general, then I think it's a very good idea to have a new military building in the city that looks cool, hip, modernist and edgy to plot their final demise in, it only makes sense. I'm telling you, having a building like this pop up in your neighbourhood can sometimes even be better than a convenience store, bingo hall, Salvation Army building or even a donut shop, I know what I'm talking about.

Of course I don't plan on specifically checking out this building next time I'm in Zagreb, it is just a building for Croatian military personnel and probably Nato/EU staff and officials to visit after all, and my military days are long done, (I've let my hair touch my ears numerous times since, and I didn't even make my bed a few times), but mainly for the reason that it will look very unique just passing by and especially for people living in the neighborhood, probably even worth taking a photo of at least if you're a tourist. ("Whoah, check out that kick-ass camo building, it's all covered in camo like a camouflaged edifice of freedom and progress, gotta take a selfie"). That's about it, it's just a unique and cool looking design. The military pixelated pattern will be added to the building lastly as a hard weather resistant material exterior liner to complete the unique but effective look. More detailed information at proarh.hr where I got the images from...

Since I already mentioned the topic of Nikola Zrinski at the beginning, I might as well include the post from September of last year here also. It's also less well known but interesting and cool information to know for the benefit of the reader...

Budapest State Opera To Stage Croatian Opera About Common 16th Century Hero Miklós Zrínyi/Nikola Zrinski

The Budapest State Opera will present the 19th-century Croatian composer Ivan Zajc’s opera Nikola Šubić Zrinski (Miklós Zrínyi) on September 18, the Director Szilveszter Ókovács said. The opera tells the story of common Hungarian-Croatian nobleman Miklós Zrínyi and the battle of Szigetvár in which he and his heavily outnumbered troops tried to contain and stop the advancing Ottoman jihad forces and their Serb allies commanded by Sultan Suleiman I, the Magnificent, in 1566.

A performance at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek.

The Budapest Opera will show the piece as part of the Hungarian state’s "Zrínyi-Szigetvár 1566 Memorial Year" commemorating the 450th anniversary of the event. It will be performed by the Croatian National Theatre of Osijek (Eszék), Ókovács said. Gordan Grlić Radman, the Croatian ambassador, described the three-act piece as his country’s most outstanding opera and Zrínyi the symbol of loyalty, courage and the love of homeland and freedom. The chief patrons of the performance are Hungarian President János Áder and his Croatian counterpart President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.

This production of the opera Nikola Šubić Zrinjski directed by Nina Kleflin premiered in November 2012. However, the very first world premiere of the opera took place in Zagreb on the 4th of November 1876. It was well received by audiences and critics alike. Zajc's work mixes then current European operatic conventions and styles with his own knowledge of Croat melody, which resulted in a sound that was deemed superior to even many Italian romantic operas of the time, for this reason Zajc is often called the Croatian Verdi. It is dominated by harmonious melodies, and the musical expressions of the two opposing cultures: the progressive enlightened Renaissance world of Central Europe against the advancing jihads of the Muslim Ottoman Empire from the Levant and Sanjak of Smederevo. Its enduring fame is due in large part to its climactic chorus, "U boj, u boj!" ("To battle, to battle!"). This excerpt was actually composed ten years prior to the rest of the opera, and was presented as a choral work. It can often be heard at gala performances and celebrations as a mantra to never give in or give up.

On 18 September, 2016 the most significant historical piece of Croatian music, the three-act opera by Ivan pl. Zajc entitled Nikola Šubić Zrinjski (Zrínyi Miklós) was presented at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest. Hungarian audiences can see this Croatian national opera in the production of the Croatian National Theatre of Osijek featuring nearly 250 guest artists.

The famous Battle of Siget performed by the Hungarian pop-rock outfit lifted the crowd to their feet in Osijek

As part of the Hungarian week festivities in Osijek, Croatia, a modern rock opera musical by an Hungarian outfit performed a play based on the 16th century Croatian Ban/Viceroy Nikola Šubić Zrinski and the famous Battle of Siget in 1566.

The 16th century Croatian Ban (pronounced like the word Ban in autobahn and meaning Viceroy/Governor) Nikola Šubić Zrinski and the historical Siege of Szigetvár (Croatian: Bitka kod Sigeta) is a battle that is still an inexhaustible source of inspiration for many artists today, even after 450 years. And not only Croatian artists, but also among Hungarian artists as well. Proof of that is the modern rock-musical "Zrinyi 1566", which Friday night performed the Siget battles through a modern music outfit, and the Osijek audience rose to their feet in the City Garden Hall (Gradski Vrt) after the performance.

The play was performed as part of the Hungarian week festivities, and organized by the Consulate General of Hungary in the city of Osijek. The artistic ensemble, which produces a large number of artists, singers, actors and dancers, were led by Sándor Sasvári, a famous Hungarian artist, who in his rich career has played in famous musicals such as "Les Miserables", "Evita" and "Phantom of the Opera" among others.

And this is why Sasvári was the holder of the title role, convincingly portraying Croatian Ban Zrinski and acting with his powerful voice thrilling the audience, after the rock opera performance they were greeted by long and loud applause. Two encores followed, in which the Hungarian artists performed the main song performances again.

"I am very pleased that we were able to perform this play precisely in the city of Osijek, especially where I personally was able to portray the role Nikola Šubić Zrinski" he said.. "It is a demanding role, because it is known that Zrinski and his comrades fought for 37 days and finally gave their lives for their country and freedoms, the play is characterized by an excellent director, quality music and top performers. This was our first, but hopefully not the last time hosting this performance in Croatia. It is my desire that this musical will also be performed in the town of Čakovec, at the very 13th century castle of Nikola Šubić Zrinski." - said Sasvári before the show.

It was a dynamic directorial performance, especially in the content, performance and musical terms. Attractive scenes followed one after another, as well as pop ballads with powerful rock songs throughout, creating a harmonious whole. And not a moment was boring, even though the show lasted three hours. There was intrigue, love (man for the woman and woman for the man, but first and foremost the homeland and freedom in this instance), the whole range of emotions, from joy to sadness to honour, pride and joy again. In short, it was an ode to the courage and heroism in the best manner of an authentic and epic European musical.

And as the Viennese musical experts ably talk music story of Mozart, yet Moravetz Levente, author of the libretto and director, and authors of music Balasy Szabolcs, Krisztián Horváth and Zoltán Papp revived the Battle os Siget into an interesting modern music outfit.

Simple but effective set design, attractive costumes, excellent direction, especially the final scene of heroic battles and the heroic death of Zrinski and all the defenders of Siget fortress, was dominated by skilled ballet dancers who floated as crows, the messengers of death. They and the other performers were great, especially the title roles, as well as Slaven Vidakovic, who is an actor and director of the Croat Theatre of Pécs in Hungary, and led the Zrinski Guard from Čakovec during the play. It was a performance to remember, confirming that an important historical event can be interpreted in an interesting and attractive way in the modern age, and still lose none of its heart and soul or historical importance.

This article I came across just by chance, and it came out already in 2014, but it's still interesting enough to throw in here even if I don't collect coins. That being mainly for the less well known Croatian connection to the topic and something that many readers may not have known.

That being that this famous Hungarian 17th century noble was also a member of the famous and historically important House of Zrinski, as well as brother to the famous Croatian Ban (a Viceroy/Governor title and pronounced like the word "Bahn") Petar Zrinski. And both of them were great-grandsons of the famous Croatian Ban and military leader Nikola Šubić Zrinski who likewise became renown and a hero all across Europe in 1556 after the Siege of Szigetvár. An epic defensive battle that was proclaimed by many leaders and writers in Europe as "the battle that saved civilization." The battle stopped the advancing jihads of the Ottomans along with many of their Serb allies and supporters from Dar Al Jihad, their ultimate goal being to conquer Vienna and beyond.

However, Nikola Zrinski himself also never forgot to consider himself and remind that he was a Croat, in 1659 he wrote in a letter to his friend and noble Ivan Ručić in Zagreb, who was the Deputy Prefect, a famous sentence in Latin: "Ego mihi conscius aliter sum, etenim non degenerem me Croatam et quidem Zrinium esse scio", which translates as: "Otherwise, I am aware and indeed I know, and I will not deny that I am a Croat, and that a Zrinski."

The Battle of Szigetvár and its legacy is still famous in Croatia and Hungary even today and inspired both the Hungarian epic poem "The Siege of Sziget" (discussed below) and the Croatian "Nikola Šubić Zrinski opera." For the period in history marked by the Ottoman wars in Europe, they are considered national heroes in both Croatia and Hungary. Anyway, definitely interesting if you are of Croatian descent and didn't know any of this before, you can hit the links to find out more...

(If the various names and surnames confuse you, you may want to check out croatiansurnameshistory.blogspot.ca for related interesting stuff which helps explain Croatian surname suffixes, including even the surname Zrinski. I also found out by chance that to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the Siege of Sziget, Hungarian and Croatian filmmakers are currently cooperating in producing a documentary about the famous battle, which is set to be released at the end of this year, that should be pretty interesting. More info at dailynewshungary.com)

Miklós Zrínyi as author, military leader and Ban of Croatia, known in Croatia as Nikola Zrinski (Nikola VII. Zrinski)he was a great-grandson of the famous Croatian Ban, military leader and noble Nikola Šubić Zrinski.

The National Bank of Hungary have issued two new coins which honor one of their country’s most celebrated leaders who has achieved admiration as a military and political leader as well as being recognized for his contributions to Military strategy, Hungarian literature and poetry. On the observance of the 350th year of the death of Miklós Zrínyi (Croatian: Nikola Zrinski, 1620 – 1664) the National Bank has issued two coins on which pay tribute to a true Hungarian patriot of the 17th century.

Born in Čakovec (Present-day Croatia) in the Kingdom of Hungary-Croatia to Croatian Ban/Viceroy, warrior and noble Jury V Zrinski, (this at a time after the medieval Kingdom of Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in the 12th century), and his Hungarian wife Magdolna (Magdalena) Széchy, the Zrinyi’s were a Croatian-Hungarian noble family. From Zrinyi’s earliest years of his education he was an enthusiastic student of the Hungarian language and literature. From 1635 to 1637, he accompanied a canon of Esztergom, a city in Northern Hungary on a long educative tour through the Italian Peninsula. Over the next few years, he learned the art of war in defending the Croatian frontier against the Ottoman Empire, and proved himself one of the most important commanders of the age.

In 1645, during the closing stages of the Thirty Years’ War, he acted against Swedish troops in Moravia and equipped the army corps at his own expense. At Eger in northern Hungary, he saved the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, who had been surprised at night in his camp by the offensive of Carl Gustaf Wrangel, a high-ranking Swedish noble and military commander. Aside from his military prowess, Zrinyi is also remembered as the author of the first epic poem in Hungarian literature. His most significant literary work regarding the Siege of Szigetvár, “Szigeti veszedelem” (The Peril of Sziget) or “Zrínyiász”, an epic poem written in the Göcsej dialect of Hungarian, was written in the winter of 1648-1649, and was published, under the title of “Adriai tengernek Syrenája” (The Siren of the Adriatic Sea) in Vienna in 1651.

With roots dating to 1546 some members of the Croatian historical military unit "Zrinski Guard Čakovec." TheZrinksi Guard of Čakovec has had hundreds of performances in Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Austria, France, Italy and other places.The uniforms are based on actual real uniforms, historical documents and pictures from the 16th to late 17th century, the black and red coloured uniforms harken back to the Zrinski officers and soldiers.(Above seen during a ceremony in his hometown of Čakovec. In the back can be seen the town's Nikola Zrinski monument in Zrinski Park)

The epic poem was immediately translated into Croatian and published within a year by Miklós's brother, Petar Zrinski (Hungarian: Zrínyi Péter) who, while Miklós was a master of Hungarian, Peter excelled in the Croatian language and it's dialects and wrote poems also. However both Nikola and Petar Zrinski were fluently bilingual in Hungarian and Croatian, and knowing also Venetian Italian, German, Latin and more.

Image of the Serb Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha (Serbian: Мехмед-паша Соколовић) ghoul who was the de facto ruler of the Islamic Ottoman empire armies and their Serb allies. It's not generally known that for the many Croatian nobles and generals, including the Zrinskis, this man and the forces under his command were the epitome of evil and terror. He was the catalyst and architect of numerous jihads against the Croatian lands and other parts of Habsburg Europe, from Dar al-Jihad organizing Islamic conquests into many parts of Europe as a part of their battle of civilizations, a monarch of the westward attacking ghoul armies. (For centuries Serb princes even wed off their own daughters to Ottoman Sultans and military/political leaders with the sole aim of just preserving any remaining personal landowning rights and privileges, and they even helped by assembling Serb volunteers for the Ottoman armies. Because of this the Serbs are the only nation in all of Europe that openly conspired with and assisted the Muslim jihads towards free Europe). By assisting and conspiring with the Ottoman empire, he and numerous other lesser Serb nobles and co-conspirators along with their Serb volunteer soldiers are directly responsible for expediting the Muslim terror and incursions into and towards Europe, for centuries waging wars against western civilization and Europe from their base Sanjak of Smederevo.

Contemporary drawing by famous German engraver Jacob von Sandrart showing Nikola Zrinski as Ban of Croatia. Portrayed defending against the Ottoman forces and Serbs from Dar Al Jihad as commander-in-chief of the Croatian-Hungarian Habsburg army in 1664.

Contemporary drawing commemorating yet another very historical event and one of the most consequential battles in Central European history, known as "The Burning of the Suleiman Bridge".Seen as a great danger to the civilization and control of the continent as well as a threat to freedom of all Central Europe, the bridge was attacked several times, but in 1664 along with over 23,000 mounted cavalry it was finally successfuly set on fire on the specific orders of Nikola Zrinski as leader of the Croatian and Hungarian Habsburg forces and Petar Zrinski as the Ban/Viceroy of Croatia (both seen pictured). The bridge over the Drava river in the north east corner of Croatia near the Hungarian border had a very important role during the centuries of Croatian-Ottoman, Hungarian-Ottoman and overall Habsburg-Ottoman wars. The bridge was planned by the Ottoman empire to be the major link to furthering their westward campaigns to take the nearest strategic Croatian city of Osijek as well as to advance across Hungarian territory towards Vienna, for this reason also using concripted Moorish soldiers and former slave Bashi-Bazouks from Africa also (The Serbian born Ottoman Grand Vizier Sarı Süleyman Pasha and his armies attempted to attack the strategic city of Osijek again and rebuild the bridge in 1687, however the Ottomans were finally crushed at the Second Battle of Mohács a little later that year and he retreated back to his base in Belgrade and then Istanbul where he was executed). The defeat of the Ottoman forces and destruction of the bridge was hailed all across Europe and the Zrinskis were again heroes and saviours of European civilization.

Since already on the topic, here's the cover of the poem book by the Ban (Viceroy/Prince & Governor) of Croatia Petar Zrinski who as mentioned was the brother of Nikola Zrinski. Published in 1660 and as readable and understandable today as 4 centuries ago. The title meaning "Siren of the Adriatic Sea" is read and pronounced exactly the same as it is today. "Adrianskoga Mora Sirena: Groff Zrinski Petar" (A modern day 3rd grader could read it without any issues btw, even much easier than reading the original The Canterbury Tales or any other Geoffrey Chaucer works or Skakespeare English in today's modern English). After Nikola Zrinski wrote the epic poem "The Peril of Sziget" or “Zrínyiász” in the Göcsej dialect of Hungarian and based it on the heroic deeds of their great grandfather Nikola Šubić Zrinski, soon after Petar Zrinski tranlated it into his dialect of Croatian in 1660 and published it as "Siren of the Adriatic Sea". (Adrianskoga mora sirena)

Here's an interesting map related to the topic also, a map of the Croatian lands dedicated to Petar Zrinski, who was the Ban (pronounced like "Bahn" meaning Viceroy/Prince & Governor) of Croatia during the 17th century and brother to Nikola Zrinski. The map was created at the workshop of Joannes Blaeu in Amsterdam as an addition to the work by Croatian historian Ivan Lučić, (Latin: Johannes Lucius) "De Regno Dalmatiae et Croatiae libri sex", Amsterdam, 1666. (On the Kingdom of Dalmatia and Croatia in six books) Blaeu had included the map in Atlas Maior in 1667, and dedicated it to Petar Zrinski. At the bottom of the map in the middle it reads..."To the most illustrious and noble Lord, Prince Peter of Zrin, the Ban of the united Kingdom of Dalmatia, Croatia and Slavonia, (Triune Kingdom) hereditary Ban of the Littoral, hereditary captain of the Legrad fortress and Medimurje peninsula, master and hereditary Prince of Lika, Odorje, Krbava, Omis, Klis, Skradin, Ostrovica, Bribir etc.., Master of Kostajnica and the sliver mine at Gvozdansko, councillor and chamberlain to his anointed imperial majesty, master Ioannes Blaeu dedicates this map". The map highlights the Croatian lands including its regional divisions during the time of Peter Zrinski. Image: obeliscus.hu.

In addition to his poetic works, Zrínyi is also a forerunner of Croatian and Hungarian political thinking and military science. In his essays and manifestos, such as “Mátyás király életéről való elmélkedések” (Reflections on the life of King Matthias) he makes a case for a standing army, a moral renewal of the nation, the re-establishment of the national kingdom and the unification of Royal Hungary with Transylvania. Zrinyi died on the 18th November 1664 in Zrínyifalva (Gornji Kuršanec), in present-day Croatia.

(Interestingly as a sidenote, as Zrinski's name became famous and praised throughout Europe after his actions against the Ottomans, it was said that "only the Zrinski's had the secret of conquering the Ottoman Muslims". At the coronation of Ferdinand IV of Austria, King of the Germans, King of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, he carried the sword of state, and was made Ban (Viceroy) and Captain-General of Croatia, in this double capacity he presided over many Croatian Parliament Diets. Holy Roman Emperor Leopold offered him the title of Prince, while Pope Alexander VII struck a commemorative medal with the effigy of Zrinski as a field marshal, the Spanish King Philip IV sent him the Order of the Golden Fleece, and the mentioned French King Louis XIV sent a gift of 10,000 thalers and even created him a Peer)

Much like the other Croatian noble lineages with roots originating from the Croatian Kingdom in the Middle Ages, such as the Houses of Frankopan, Hrvatinić, Kačić, Lacković, Kurjaković, Karlović, Gusić et al, the Zrinski noble family history is a branch which descends from the medieval House of Šubić from Bribir. (one of the twelve high princely tribes which constituted Croatian statehood in the early Middle Ages and encompassed today's Šibenik-Knin county, the most well known and outstanding member being the proclaimed "Ban of the Croats" (Latin: Banus Croatorum) as well as the "Lord of all the Bosnia" (Latin: totius Bosniae dominus), Prince and military leader Paul I Šubić of Bribir in 1293). And as the Zrinski family history coincides with the later centuries of Croatian-Hungarian and Habsburg political unions, through intermarriages they were also connected with the above mentioned nobles as well as Hungarian, Bohemian Czech, Polish Piast dynasty, Austrian, Venetan and other Central European dynasties and noble families.

Members of the House of Zrinski are also found on Croatian currency banknotes, coins as well as stamps. Above are House of Zrinski members featured on Hungarian and Croatian stamps. The 2nd Croatian stamp at bottom row features Nikola Zrinjski. Below the Croatian stamp collection from 1996. (More info at www.posta.hr)

The coins, struck by the Mint of Hungary in Budapest, were designed by László Hunyadi, a sculptor living in Marosvásárhely (present-day Târgu Mureş). The obverse of the coin features a bust of Zrínyi as a grown man and inspired by an earlier sketching of him with the denomination below the primary design. The reverse depicts his place of birth, the castle of Csáktornya, (ie: Čakovec Croatia) along with Zrínyi’s motto in Latin “SORS BONA, NIHIL ALIUD” (GOOD LUCK, NOTHING ELSE)

*Update April 13, 2016

Original Nikola Šubić Zrinski Helmet & Sabre To Be Put On Display In Croatia For First Time Since 1577

I came across some interesting related news and images also worth throwing in here. As mentioned previously, Nikola Zrinski/Miklós Zríny was the great-grandson of the famous Croatian Ban, important military leader and noble Nikola Šubić Zrinski, (pronounced like the word bahn and meaning Viceroy/Governor), who likewise became renown and a hero all across Europe in 1556 after the famous and pivotal Siege of Szigetvár.

So to help celebrate the 450th anniversary of the Siege of Sziget, the permanent collection at the Vienna Museum of Art History in Austria is donating the actual helmet and sword that was worn and belonged to Nikola Šubić Zrinski. The helmet, sword and his jacket were stored for safe keeping in Vienna since 1577 by Archduke of Tyrol, Ferdinand II, who was a collector in the second half of the 16th century and made an impressive collection of historical weapons and armour in his castle. The items will be loaned to the Museum of Zrinski Palace/Čakovec Museum of Medjimurje in Čakovec Croatia. (but not the jacket which is too delicate for restoration and in risk of more damage if moved) The helmet and sword have been rarely seen in person by the general public and it will be the first time that they will travel back to Croatia to be exhibited at the Čakovec Museum.

The items will also be highlighted and discussed in a documentary by HRT about the famous, epic and pivotal for Croatian and European history defensive battle, which is currently being filmed and will be aired later this year. (trailer below). Below are some very rare views of the sword and helmet belonging to Nikola Šubić Zrinski.

Matthias Pfaffenbichler who is in charge of the arms and armour collections at the Austrian Museum in Vienna and screenwriter and director at Croatian HRT television Vladimir Brnardić with Zrinki's helmet and sword.

Trailer for the documentary by Croatian HRT television about the famous, epic and pivotal for Croatian and European history defensive battle. (It's interesting that at the hearings before the Committee on Foreign Relations and submitted to the Senate on July 10, 1919, both Polish King John Sobieski and Nikola Šubić Zrinski are mentioned as saviours of Europe and western civilization because they "...rescued them from a strangle-hold, namely, Nikola Zrinski and John Sobieski, one a Croatian and the other a Pole.")

Poster from the announcement of the Zagreb premiere and very first performance of Zajc's "Nikola Šubić Zrinjski" opera in 1876.

Thursday, 16 February 2017

There's more exciting and important topics going on right now, (supposedly a celeb somewhere did a selfie and tweeted something or said something in her new dress somewhere, it was all over the news this week), but this cool footage is rare so I decided it was interesting enough to throw in here also. (Rare not because it doesn't happen, there's just less winter images/videos around compared to summer views) Because like I mentioned before, I've come across many instances over the years where the people didn't even know that it snows in Croatia. (Imagine that, what did they think we ski and snowboard on or make snowmen with?) That would probably be because people see the summer time images and video footage floating around or they read an article about some celeb vacationing on the coast, and so then think it's always like that 365 days a year, just swimming, suntanning and galavanting from packed outdoor cafes to the festivals and just wearing shorts all the time rubbing suntan lotion on each others backs all day long, then sipping beers and wines on the boat deck eating fresh lobster. Nothing could be further from the truth, there really are different seasons in Croatia believe it or not. Actually, and this has happened a number times since starting this blog I noticed, I live in Canada and it snowed in Croatia earlier and even later than around here. I kid you not, even the capital city of Zagreb has a more northerly latitude than the city of Montreal. (That's why I started doing posts like Photos Of The Day November Snowfall every once in a while and throw in some of the Non-Summer images now and then to prove it)

Anyway, the below footage came out just a few days ago. In the 1st video the footage is of Croatian mountaineer and runner Ante Tonči Fabris and his dog Mishka Nanishka (or just Miška ), hiking the trails and cliffs on Velebit Mountain just above the historic coastal town of Senj and Nehaj Fortress built in 1568. It's not my particular favorite pastime or hobby these days, I've done similar before but I prefer skiing instead, however it is some cool rare video footage though. (see Photos Of Day 50th FIS World Cup Skiing Zagreb from last month for more cool pics) The part where they stop and look around, it sure is very different from the summer views with no ships, yachts or sailboats off in the distance which is usually the case in summer. Interestingly the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (Croatian: Hrvatska gorska služba spašavanja, HGSS) also do a lot of their training on this very Velebit mountain range and surrounding area, as well as literally save tourists who get lost or fall.

This time his snowy adventure took place on the Velebit Mountains range, parts of which make up the Velebit National Park and Paklenica National Park, the Velebit mountain range forms a part of the Dinaric Alps located along the Adriatic coast and also contains a number of deep caves, Cerovačke špilje and the "Lukina jama" cave (1431 meters deep) are popular with tourists because they extend for many kilometers underground and include caves formerly inhabited by the enormous ice age cave bears until 24,000 years ago. Both National Parks are also home to populations of bears, wolves, lynx, deers, martens, hares, bats, falcons, owls and many other animals. (The imposing nature of the main Velebit Mountain has made it something of a national symbol in Croatian folklore for centuries, there is a patriotic folk song "Vila Velebita" from the 19th century about a legendary supernatural fairy being (vila) that inhabits the rocks and mountaineous area of the Velebit range, a legend says she even played a part in helping defeat the centuries of Ottoman Muslim jihads and their Serb allies towards Central Europe and Croatia from Sanjak Smederevo, with just the sound of her wings able to make rocks rain onto the invaders. There are also folk tales about other various nature spirits and beings btw, such as witches, mermaids, underworld and water dwelling beings, unexplained orb phenomena etc)

Here after a fresh snowfall he treks along the Premužić track, which is partly very dangerous for inexperienced climbers, the 15 kilometer snowshoe walk on Velebit began from the Zavižan mountain lodge rest area to the shelter stop and then all the way back down again. The truth must be told that it even snows along the coast, if the reader plans on being in the area this time of year, then just leave the suntanning lotion and shorts behind and pack your touque and boots.

*(There's plenty of summer season videos and images of the Velebit and Plitvica Lakes parks to check out like I said, also here's some interesting related information about the bears-wolves-lynx-conservation efforts including in and around this Velebit mountain range area)

Will they slip and fall down the high cliffs against the snowy rocks below? You'll have to watch to find out.

Plitvice Lakes after a fresh snowfall. Youtube screenshot.

This 2nd video is him and his dog Mishka again walking among the frozen waterfalls and fresh snow at Plitvička Lakes National Park, which includes 16 lakes with numerous waterfalls connecting them all. Another not often seen view from the more popular usual summer images of the nature park. I was there a few times before but during the summer, when it's very different looking. Mainly trekking along the frozen upper falls and a run around Kozjak lake, the tranquil sereness on fresh snow is in sharp contrast from the warmer weather when thousands of people visit daily to walk the same paths and waterfall trails. (see also www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr for more about the lakes and nature park)

Will they slip and fall down into the frigid icy water below? You'll have to watch to find out.

Here's good contrast examples of what the above locations usually look like in the summer, ie: when it's not snowing.

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Immediate Death Sentences For The Serbian Church Top 3 Holy Trinity, The Right Thing To Do

About Me

What is "Croatianicity"? Is it relevant in this day and age? Yes it is, and has been for many centuries. In this country of multiculturalism it can at times be a state of mind or even just those instances where one is aware of one's Croatian ethnic background. (when eating Croatian food or when in the act of seeing written material or an image that is pertaining to Croatians or Croatia) Very similar to:
..."Chineseicity"..."Germanicity"..."Japanicity"...."Polishinicity"..."Irishinicity"..."Spanishinicity"
..."Norwegianicity"..."Lithuanianicity"...
"Russianicity"..."Italianicity"..."Hindustanicity"..."Greekanicity"..."Argentinianicity"..."Danishincity...and also quite a number of other "-icity's", too many to mention. "Croatianicity" just has a more Croatian flavour and theme to it...for obvious reasons.....My domain name for those interested is actually a hybrid and adaption. A domain name that includes "kitty cats", "bubbles", "unicorns", butterflies" or "daisies" would not be wise or appropriate, as here I post and discuss topics of a serious nature at times as well. All spelling mistakes are my own.